Rawat, who quit his post after Anna was handed the ticket, had met senior leader L K Advani in Goa on Tuesday, urging him to reconsider the leadership's decision to field Anna from Pune. Rawat's men had also taken to the streets, demanding that the ticket be given to their leader and not Anna.

Although Rawat is now the official candidate, the BJP's problems seem to be far from over. Anna left for Delhi on summons from party president Kushabhau Thakre while his stunned supporters entered into a war of words with the rival camp which was ecstatic.

There was high drama at the party office after word spread that Rawat had replaced Joshi. The two factions were in a belligerent mood, clearly indicating that the last on this had not been heard. When it looked that there could be a clash, the police intervened and dispersed the workers.

BJP sources said that Atal Behari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Kushabhau Thakre met in Delhi last night to sort out the Pune mess. After considering the sentiments of party workers and State leaders, they decided to take the ticket from Anna and hand it to Rawat instead.

Thakre apparently telephoned Anna and told him not to file his papers. He also asked Anna to report to Delhi. Thakre had by then spoken to State unit president Suryabhan Wahadane, who was in the city, and informed him of the change.

Wahadane later called a meeting of select leaders and informed them that Rawat was now the official party candidate. Wahadane later proceeded to Satara.

Unaware that Anna was busy packing his bags for the journey to Delhi, his supporters had collected near the Kasba Ganpati temple to take out a procession to file the nomination papers. In a buoyant mood, the workers became restless when he did not show up until 11.30 am.

It was finally left to city BJP vice-president Ashok Salunkhe to inform the workers that Anna ``like a disciplined soldier of the party'' had gone to Delhi on summons from Thakre. The sources close to Anna said he was expected to return from Delhi on Friday.

The confusion in the party still continued with party leaders anxious to know what stance would Anna now take. Anna had left the party in 1996 when he was denied the ticket. He had returned only after Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde intervened.

In the other camp, it was an altogether different story. A delighted Rawat addressed his supporters at the city office and thanked the central leadership for reconsidering its decision and reposing faith in him.

He later said that alliance candidates for the three LS constituencies in the district and all the assembly constituencies would meet tonight and decide on the filing of nomination papers on August 23.

Talking to media persons in the evening, Rawat described the events of the past few days as ``painful and unfortunate'' and thanked the party leadership for ``honouring the sentiments'' of the workers. He said he would personally meet Anna and expressed the hope that the latter would campaign for the party.

Rawat said that he had ``never revolted'' against the party but had ``communicated workers' sentiments'' by stepping down from the post. He pointed out that even in his resignation letter, he had appealed to people to elect the BJP.

Rawat said he would come out with a special manifesto for Pune city, which would be aimed at making the city of the 21st century. He said he would try to make Pune a software city with the help of Central and State Governments.

Rawat, 44, has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood. He was one of the founder members of the right wing Patit Pawan Sanghatana. He joined the BJP in 1990 and became the city president in 1995.